The Child-Hunters & Maternal Protectors

The Vulnerability of New Life

In Némand's cosmology, consciousness is weakest at two moments: death and birth. At death, the soul departs for the 9th planet. At birth, the soul is newly arrived, not yet anchored to flesh. This vulnerability attracts specific div fragments.

The Āl and Its Kin

The Āl is a class of div that feeds on the liminal state between conception and consciousness-anchoring (first few months of life). Regional variations exist across Persia:

Hāli Naneh (حالی ننه) - The Ceiling Stalker

Region: Tabriz, Northwest Iran

Appearance: Tall woman with long necklace

Method: Hangs from ceiling (inverted, unnatural) above pregnant women, inducing fear and complications

Feeding: Consumes maternal anxiety and fetal distress

Weakness: Breaking necklace stone severs connection to div-essence (sympathy magic—necklace is Peyvand link to source). Falls and cannot return.

Tier: 1 (weak but persistent)

Shah Veh (شه وه) - The Postpartum Predator

Region: Mahabad, West Azerbaijan

Method: Attacks mothers after childbirth when consciousness is depleted from soul-effort of creation

Traditional Defense: Light (consciousness symbol) + open knife (consciousness-forged iron) + two sickles (agricultural tools with conscious use) placed above mother's bed

Meaning: Defense requires consciousness-imbued items. Light represents awareness. Iron forged with intent. Tools used with mindfulness. The combination creates protective field.

Tier: 1-2

Khaleh Ghulak (خاله غولک) - The Infant Thief

Region: Jahrom, Fars Province

Method: Steals newborns in first vulnerable weeks

Feeding: Consumes both infant's unanchored consciousness and mother's grief

Defense: Gold-threaded swaddling (Chromaturgy protection), constant vigilance (Didār law—observation prevents invisibility)

Tier: 1-2

Protective Rituals (Functional Magic)

These folk defenses actually work in your magic system:

The Three-Fold Ward (Against Āl-Kin):

1. Light (Didār): Consciousness represented as illumination. Vapour-Lantern maintained throughout night. Observation prevents manifestation.
2. Iron (Darmāndan): Knife or sickle forged with conscious intent. Physical presence of will-imbued metal disrupts div essence.
3. Vigilance (All Laws): Family members take shifts watching. Conscious presence creates protective field (six laws engaged passively).

Chromaturgy Protection:

• Gold Thread: Protective enchantment for pregnant women and infants
• White Thread: Purity (never fades—eternal protection for newborn swaddling)
• Emerald Thread: Vitality enhancement (strengthens infant's life-force)

The Child-Discipliners

A different category: Not feeding on innocents but enforcing social order through fear. Fragments of corrupted Dāvar (Judgment without mercy):

Nane Har Dom (ننه هر دُم) - The Tail Woman

Region: Tehran

Appearance: Body covered with tails of various animals

Method: Asks disobedient children which tail they want to be strangled with (judgment presented as choice—twisted Dāvar)

Feeding: Fear of disobedience, parental authority anxiety

Tier: 1 (more psychological than physical threat)

Goje-Ferfer (گوجه فرفر) - The Tomato Rider

Region: Shiraz

Appearance: Boy riding a tomato (absurd yet threatening)

Method: Abducts lazy/careless children, throws them in boiling pot

Feeding: Sloth (connection to Bushyasta div), waste of potential

Tier: 1 (bizarre manifestation showing div adaptation to regional culture)

Story Hint: Can be used for dark comedy relief or genuine horror depending on tone. Protagonist discovers these aren't just stories—children ARE disappearing. Investigation reveals minor div infestation. Early quest establishing that even "silly" folklore has truth in this world.

The Serpents of the Wastes

Naznāz (نضناض) - The Black Serpent

Region: Southern deserts ('Aja'eb-nameh texts)

Appearance: Black serpent with human-like face, long hair, black smoke from mouth

Forbidden Knowledge: Eating its heart grants understanding of animal speech (corrupted Daryāft—comprehension through consumption)

Danger: Knowledge comes with corruption. Those who eat Naznāz's heart can understand animals but slowly lose human speech. Alignment shifts toward Angra. Transformation into beast-human (corrupted Metamorphosis).

Tier: 2 (dangerous but killable)

Samand Eslar (سمند اسلار) - The Death-Gaze Serpent

Region: Southern lands

Appearance: Two heads, two wings, long hair from back of heads

Power: Gaze is venomous—looking at its face kills instantly. Even striking it with weapons causes attacker to "turn black and perish" (consciousness death, not physical)

Nature: Corrupted Didār (Observation)—the act of seeing becomes weapon. Those who look upon it experience soul-death (consciousness ripped away).

Counter: Must fight without looking directly. Use mirrors, fight blind, or employ Prophetic Vision (Gardūn + Didār) to see without "seeing."

Tier: 3 (serious mid-to-late game threat)

Story Hint: Guards pyramid entrance in Dasht-e Kavir. Protagonist must develop technique to fight without direct observation—teaching advanced Pair of Threes application (perceive without Didār, use other laws). Could require Prophetic Vision school mastery or clever mirror tactic.

Ambush Predators & Shadow Dwellers

Āj Ānghīrān (آج آنقیران) - The Hole-Dweller

Region: Tabriz

Habitat: Holes, attics, spaces between walls

Method: Creates loud noises (disorientation) then physically drags victims into its hole

Feeding: Terror of enclosed spaces, claustrophobia, being trapped

Defense: Never enter unknown holes alone. Seal attics with consciousness-marked boundaries. Light in all corners (no shadows for manifestation).

Tier: 1-2

Shumut (شوموت) - The Wall Shadow

Region: Chenaran, Khorasan

Appearance: Black jinn appearing on walls in darkness

Historical Note: "Seen in ancient times when there was no electricity"—interesting! Shows div adaptation to technology. With widespread Vapour-Lanterns, Shumut weakened. In areas without light, still appears.

Feeding: Darkness, ignorance, lack of awareness (anti-Didār)

Defense: Simple light sufficient. Even basic Vapour-Lantern banishes it.

Tier: 1 (weakest type, nearly superstition)

Story Hint: Early encounter showing that basic consciousness (light) defeats basic div fragment. Teaching moment: Simple awareness is protection. Also shows technology (Vapour-Lanterns) has reduced some div activity—but created dependence on devices.

The Benevolent Exception

Parizad-e Derakhti (پریزاد درختی) - The Tree Fairy

Region: Bandar Abbas, southern coast

Appearance: Woman with ruby-red eyes, golden hair, radiant fair skin

Behavior: Sits on trees combing her hair (peaceful, non-threatening)

Nature: Neutral-to-benevolent fragment. Possibly nature spirit or fragment of Anahita (Waters/Fertility Yazata) expressed through coastal vegetation.

Powers: Her presence strengthens trees and vegetation. Areas she frequents have unusually healthy growth (Life magic amplification).

Interaction: Doesn't harm humans but dislikes disturbance. If approached respectfully, may grant small blessing (hair strand as Chromaturgy component—exceptionally pure gold thread).

Story Hint: Protagonist seeking rare Chromaturgy material encounters Parizad-e Derakhti. Teaches respect for neutral entities (not everything is enemy or ally—some just exist). Her hair could be key ingredient for final protective enchantment. Encounter tests protagonist's approach to power: demand/steal vs. request/trade.

Practical Applications for Travelers

Traditional folklore adapted from regional Persian sources. For more authentic mythology, see Eranshahr Myths Directory.